Gaffney defense stymies high-powered offense
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Sports Editor larry@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney safety Johnny Woods tackles Sumter running back Roderick McDowell, who gained just 55 yards on eight carries on Friday.

The Gaffney defense showed it was in championship form Friday.

The Indians limited Sumter to only 161 total yards and held 1,330-yard rusher Roderick McDowell in check. McDowell finished with just 55 yards on eight carries.

The Gamecocks were held without a first down on three first-half drives. They failed to pick up a first down on two of their four second-half possessions.

Sumter had averaged 36 points a game this season, but mustered just one touchdown against the stingy Indians' defense.

Gaffney defensive coordinator Dan Jones said the game plan was to take away the Gamecocks' strength - their running game.

"We tried to get them into passing situations," Gaffney defensive coordinator Dan Jones said. "We tried to have a good first down and get them into passing situations."

Except for some early screen passes, Sumter had little success through the air. Gamecock quarterback Stephen Curtis, who was under pressure for most of the game, was 7 of 11 for a meager 54 yards.

Instead of the Indians' typical 4-4 alignment, the Indians used three down linemen.

"That seemed to confuse them," Jones said.

O'Brian Sanford had a couple of big plays for the Indians, but Jones said everybody made a contribution.

"In the playoffs, when a team is averaging more than 30 points a game and you hold them to just seven, then everybody had a good game," Jones said.

The performance was even more remarkable since the defense was not at full strength. Linebacker J.B. Shippy was nursing a groin injury and B.J. Spencer was hampered with shin splits.